Home Equity Line of Credit

Home Equity Line of Credit

A line of credit in which one borrows against the value of one's home. That is, the collateral on a home equity line of credit is one's house. The amount of these loans is usually the difference between the homeowner's equity in the house and the market value of the house. A home equity line of credit operates like a credit card with a credit limit in that one may borrow, through a debit card or a check, at one's discretion, up to the maximum amount of the line of credit. The homeowner may use this credit line to finance other purchases or ventures. However, if a home equity line of credit is not repaid, the lender may take possession of the house and sell it in order to pay for the credit line; this can occur even if the homeowner continues to make payments on his/her mortgage. These loans generally have variable interest rates, which are nonetheless still lower than most other lines of credit.

Home equity line of credit (HELOC).

Sometimes referred to as a HELOC, a home equity line of credit lets you borrow against the equity you've built in your home, usually by using a debit card or writing checks against your available balance.

Your credit line, or limit, is fixed, but you can draw against it up to that limit rather than receive the entire loan amount as a lump sum. Whatever you borrow reduces your available balance until you repay it. Then you can borrow it again.

Home equity lines of credit have variable interest rates. The terms of repayment vary and are spelled out in your agreement.

In some cases, you begin to repay principal and interest as soon as you borrow. In others, you pay interest only and make a one-time full payment of principal at some set date. Or you may make interest-only payments for a specific period, and then begin to repay principal as well.

It's important to keep in mind that because your home serves as collateral for the line of credit, your home could be at risk if you default, or fall behind on repayment.

home equity line of credit (HELOC)

A revolving credit line secured by a mortgage on the borrower's residence.The borrower may draw down the loan—obtain funds—and then repay the principal later and restore the full borrowing ability for the maximum amount of the loan.The loan is often for amounts represented by the surplus above the first mortgage up to 125 percent of the appraised value of the home.These are high-risk loans because a foreclosure after default will not provide a sale price high enough to pay off the HELOC. As a result, the loans carry fairly high interest rates and, despite widespread advertising for 125 percent loans, only the most credit-worthy borrowers are able to secure the maximum loans.IRS rules allow the deduction of the interest on up to $100,000 of home equity line of credit debt.

Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)

A mortgage set up as a line of credit against which a borrower can draw up to a maximum amount, as opposed to a loan for a fixed dollar amount.

For example, using a standard mortgage you might borrow $150,000, which would be paid out in its entirety at closing. Using a HELOC instead, you receive the lender's promise to advance you up to $150,000, in an amount and at a time of your choosing. You can draw on the line by writing a check, using a special credit card, or in other ways.

Most HELOCs are second mortgages and are used to fund intermittent needs, such as paying off credit cards, making home improvements, or paying college tuition. However, an increasing number of HELOCs are first mortgages used to refinance an existing first mortgage.

Interest Calculated Daily: Because the balance of a HELOC may change from day to day, depending on draws and repayments, interest on a HELOC is calculated daily rather than monthly. For example, on a standard 6% mortgage, interest for the month is .06 divided by 12 or .5, multiplied by the loan balance at the end of the preceding month. If the balance is $100,000, the interest payment is $500.

On a 6% HELOC, interest for a day is .06 divided by 365 or .000164, which is multiplied by the average daily balance during the month. If this is $100,000, the daily interest is $16.44, and over a 30-day month, interest amounts to $493.15; over a 31-day month, it is $509.59.

Draw Period and Repayment Period: HELOCs have a draw period, during which the borrower can use the line and a repayment period during which it must be repaid. Draw periods are usually five to 10 years, during which the borrower is only required to pay interest. Repayment periods are usually 10 to 20 years, during which the borrower must make payments on the principal equal to the balance at the end of the draw period divided by the number of months in the repayment period. Some HELOCs, however, require that the entire balance be repaid at the end of the draw period, so the borrower must refinance at that point.

Low Up-Front Cost: Amajor advantage of a HELOC over a standard mortgage in a refinancing is a lower upfront cost. On a $150,000 standard loan, settlement costs may range from $2,000 to $5,000, unless the borrower pays an interest rate high enough for the lender to pay some or all of it. On a $150,000 credit line, costs seldom exceed $1,000 and in many cases are paid by the lender without a rate adjustment.

High Exposure to Interest Rate Risk: The major disadvantage of the HELOC is its exposure to interest rate risk. All HELOCs are adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), but they are much riskier than standard ARMs. Changes in the market impact a HELOC very quickly. If the prime rate changes on April 30, the HELOC rate will change effective May 1. An exception is HELOCs that have a guaranteed introductory rate, but these hold for only a few months. Standard ARMs, in contrast, are available with initial fixed-rate periods as long as 10 years.

HELOC rates are tied to the prime rate, which some argue is more stable than the indexes used by standard ARMs. In 2003, this certainly seemed to be the case, since the prime rate changed only once, to 4% on June 27. However, in 2001, the prime rate changed 11 times and ranged between 4.75% and 9%. In 1980, it changed 38 times and ranged between 11.25% and 20%.

In addition, most standard ARMs have rate adjustment caps, which limit the size of any rate change. And they have maximum rates 5%-6% above the initial rates, which in 2003 put them roughly at 8% to 11%. HELOCs have no adjustment caps, and the maximum rate is 18% except in North Carolina, where it is 16%.

Shopping for a HELOC: Shopping for a HELOC is simpler than shopping for a standard mortgage, if you know what you are doing. The major reason is that important features are the same from one lender to another.

• The interest rate on all the HELOCs is tied to the prime rate, as reported in the Wall Street Journal. In contrast, standard ARMs use a number of different indexes (Libor, COFI, CODI, and so on) which careful shoppers have to evaluate.

• The interest rate on the HELOCs adjust the first day of the month following a change in the prime rate, which could be just a few days. (Exceptions are those HELOCs with an introductory guaranteed rate, but these hold only for one to six months.) Standard ARMs, in contrast, fix the rate at the beginning for periods ranging from a month to 10 years.

• The HELOCs have no limit on the size of a rate adjustment, and most of them have a maximum rate of 18% except in North Carolina, where it is 16%. Standard ARMs may have different rate adjustment caps and different maximum rates.

The Margin: The critical feature of a HELOC that is not the same from one lender to another, and which should be the major focus of smart shoppers, is the margin. This is the amount that is added to the prime rate to determine the HELOC rate. Many if not most lenders do not volunteer the margin unless they are asked.

Here is what can happen when you don't ask. Borrower X, who provided me with his history, was offered an introductory rate of 4.5% for three months. He was told that after the three months the rate “would be based on the prime rate.” At the time the loan closed, the prime rate was 4%. Three months later, the prime rate was still 4%, but the rate on his loan was raised to 9.5%. It turned out that the margin, which the borrower never asked about, was 5.5%!

Warning: Do not assume that the difference between your HELOC start rate and the prime rate is the margin. It may or may not be. Ask. Bear in mind, as well, that the margin varies with credit score, ratio of total mortgage debt to property value, documentation, and other factors. You need the margin on your deal, not the margin they are advertising which is their best deal.

Other HELOC Features: If the HELOC will be used to meet future contingencies rather than to refinance an existing mortgage, the shopper needs to know whether there is a minimum draw at closing, or a minimum average loan balance. Lenders don't make any money unless the HELOC is used, but they are not always forthcoming about this. Borrowers who are uncertain about future usage don't want to be forced to borrow money they won't need.

Last and least important are the fees. Up-front fees are the same types as on standard mortgages, except that HELOC lenders seldom charge points, and third-party fees tend to be small and are often paid by the lender. In addition, there are some uniquely HELOC charges that you should factor in. These include an annual fee, usually $25-$75 and often waived the first year; and a cancellation fee, perhaps $350-$500, which is usually waived if the account stays open for three years.

Truth in Lending (TIL) on a HELOC: The required TIL disclosure on HELOCs is a travesty. Borrowers must be given an APR, but it is the same as the interest rate. Among other things, it does not reflect points or other upfront costs, as the APR on standard loans does. The borrower described above was given an APR of 4.5% early on, and when his rate jumped to 9.5% he was told that his new APR was 9.5%. TIL does not require disclosure of the margin.

The other form, a "home equity line of credit," is a revolving account that permits borrowing from time to time, at the homeowner's discretion, up to the amount of the credit line; it typically has a more flexible repayment schedule than a traditional home equity loan.

After a year, look to establish a home equity line of credit from which you can draw when you are financially ready to take on another mortgage and increase your real estate holdings: Hake sure you factor in escalating energy costs and insurance before you increase your investment property holdings.

They can also tap the equity in their homes by taking out a traditional closed-end and second mortgage or by obtaining a revolving home equity line of credit. Survey data indicate that these latter alternatives have been the more frequently chosen means of extracting equity in recent years.

Such credit typically takes either of two forms.1 The first of these, referred to here as a "traditional home equity loan," is a closed-end loan extended for a specified period of time and generally requiring repayment of interest and principal in equal monthly installments.2 The second form is the newer "home equity line of credit," a revolving account secured by residential equity.

Clark says he normally would have Bishop explore establishing a home equity line of credit to consolidate some of her debt, but she recently purchased her home, so it has not yet accumulated enough equity for her to do that.

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